Winterlark Premiere Their Refreshing, Classy New EP ‘You Send Me A Photograph’

There’s an old-fashioned goodness that shines through with Winterlark and their brand new EP You Send Me A Photograph. It’s an inherent musical friendliness that emanates through Kristin Olson’s upright bass tones and unmistakable vocal harmonies, as well as through Sweeney Schragg’s gentle, compelling, and soothing vocals.

Together, this songwriting and instrumental team has assembled a feel-good collection of six new songs that, if you’re in a bad mood, will put you in a good one, and if you’re in a good mood, will make it all the better. Jazzy and traditional, and defined by its pop-infused melodies, the pair has taken the best aspects of jazz and folk and put them together to make for a perfect Saturday afternoon coffeehouse kind of listening experience.

Based in the Bay area of California, Winterlark derives much personal joy from songwriting, which keeps them motivated and hard-working. They write for themselves, avoiding being classified as a certain type of songwriting team, content to feed off of wherever their musical intentions and goals may be. Their lightheartedness is one of their more endearing, charming qualities, a nice change of pace from the super seriousness of today’s modern music.

Commenting on You Send Me A Photography, Olson and Schragg state:

“As we feel that we’re just hitting our stride as collaborating songwriters, we look at the world outside—to quote ‘Too Blue To Be Haunted,’ our single from the EP and ask, ‘What are we doing here?’ Though we might be skeptical about the common tropes of modern pop music, we still write about love and hope and heartbreak in three minute songs, knowing that the future of the planet depends on the small, personal connections among individual people.”

Winterlark in 2023, photo by Paul Schraub

In line with that lightheartedness, there is, interestingly enough, a suggestion throughout You Send Me A Photograph that this trumped-up, definitive view of happiness that we often strive for isn’t exactly the be-all-end-all it is made out to be. It’s not considered all that often, but it is perhaps relief that we are really pursuing on a day-to-day basis that feeling of being ok with things the way they are and just feeling content or relaxed enough that you feel you can get through another day. Music is a big part of that daily relief; it is albums like these that contribute to that calming reprieve.

You Send Me a Photograph Track Listing:

1. Too Blue To Be Haunted
2. What I See In Your Eyes
3. Good Information To Know
4. My Heart Thinks You’re Important
5. Only What I Can Do
6. Watch The Door, Winter Is Here

Tour Dates:

06/22 – Soquel, CA, Ugly Mug Cafe
07/09 – Santa Cruz, CA, Big Basin Vineyards
07/13 – Santa Cruz, CA, Three Memoirists + Music at Downtown Santa Cruz Library

Winterlark ‘You Send Me A Photograph’ EP album artwork